Since 2007 the working group of Prof. Martin Frank in collaboration with Research Division 2 and 4 is operating a multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS, Nu instruments, Wrexham, UK) for high precision isotope measurements. Due to the high ionization energy of the plasma combined with simultaneous ion beam collection, the instrument is capable of analyzing isotope compositions of most elements of the periodic table to high precision. Radiogenic isotope systems (Nd, Pb, Hf, Sr) as well as stable isotopes of heavy elements (Si, Fe, Mo, Ba) are now measured routinely or being developed as new proxies in sedimentary, seawater and rock samples.

For the chemical preparation of the samples for isotope analysis, modern cleanroom facilities are operational since 2009.